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Gut Bacteria Make Neurotransmitters to Shape the Newborn Immune System (news.weill.cornell.edu)

submitted 6 months ago by shreddy_scientist@lemmy.ml to c/science@lemmy.ml

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[–] treadful@lemmy.zip 7 points 6 months ago (3 children)

“So far, almost all studies of gut neurotransmitters were conducted in adult animals or human subjects, where a specific gut cell type called enterochromaffin cells produce neurotransmitters,” said Dr. Zeng. “However, we discovered that this isn’t the case in the newborn gut where most of the serotonin is made by bacteria that are more abundant in the neonatal gut.”

Had no idea serotonin has other uses. Watch, the gut be responsible for modern wide spread depression.

[–] shreddy_scientist@lemmy.ml 12 points 6 months ago

The gut brain connection, more explicitly the microbiota, is directly tied into anxiety and depression. This is a major reason broad spectrum antibiotics should only be used when absolutely necessary plus a well round diet is vital!

More mind blowing is the recent research showing Fecal Transplants helping with Autism. It's been demonstrated microbiota dysbiosis when young is associated with developing Autism, and Fecal Transplants allow for a healthly microbiota to replace the one in disarray.

Here's a research paper digging into the depression and anxiety apects if you're interested: Gut Microbiota in Anxiety and Depression - Unveiling the Relationships and Management Options https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10146621/

[–] appel@whiskers.bim.boats 4 points 6 months ago

Probably not directly responsible but there is a strong link between them in the gut-brain axis, the effects are likely bidirectional

[–] Lath@kbin.earth 3 points 6 months ago

Yes, that's a theory being explored currently.